Audit: Jail commissary money was misspent

Jun. 26, 2013

Written by

Marlon A. Walker and Michael Lewis

Detroit Free Press Staff Writers

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Jail Commissary Fund was used to purchase video camera units, computers to monitor inmates on tethers and gift cards for employees in apparent violation of policy, auditors found.

Officials from Auditor General Willie Mayo’s office also said people appointed to the commissary’s oversight board shouldn’t work on the department’s advisory level because it could create the appearance of a conflict-of-interest in decision making.

In findings presented Wednesday morning to the Wayne County Commission’s Audit Committee, officials said spending money on items that do not directly benefit inmates is not permitted with commissary funds.

Inmates receive money from friends and relatives to buy items in the commissary, and the profits are supposed to benefit them. According to the report, the income can be used to provide inmate programs and services that could reduce recidivism and the rate of incarceration.

“The policy and procedures indicate that the petty cash should be used for isolated incidents and/or extenuating circumstances,” the report says.

Jeriel Heard, chief of jails and courts for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, objected to the audit’s views on whether items were beneficial to inmates.

“The need for the video cameras was because district court judges decided that in order to expedite the hearings of inmates in jail, and in having to transport inmates from the jail to the district courts, that we could do video conferencing, which would expedite the release of these folks from jail,” Heard said. “It was a good investment overall for the county taxpayer and it definitely benefited inmates because instead of having to wait 14 days for a hearing, they can wait seven days.”

Commissioner Tim Killeen, who sits on the audit board, suggested clarifying what can be purchased with commissary fund dollars.

“There’s much more to look into,” said Killeen, D-Detroit. “We have to look at the actual expenditures, the actual language and see if they match up. If they don’t, is there a good reason to amend the ordinance?”